DUKERIES, THE, a district in the north-west of Notting hamshire, England, forming part of Sherwood forest (q.v.). The name was taken from the existence of several adjacent demesnes of noblemen, and the character of the forest is to some extent preserved here. On the north is the Lincoln, Retford, Worksop, Sheffield branch and on the south, the Lincoln, 011erton, Chester field branch of the L.N.E. railway. The following demesnes are in the district. Worksop Manor formerly belonged to the dukes of Norfolk. Welbeck Abbey, the seat of the dukes of Portland, to whom it came from the Cavendish family (dukes of New castle), is mainly classic in style, dating from the early 17th century, but with many subsequent additions; the fifth duke of Portland (d. 1879) built the curious series of subterranean cor ridors and chambers beneath the grounds. Clumber House, the seat of the dukes of Newcastle, is beautifully placed above a lake. Thoresby Park is the seat of the Manvers family (Earl Manvers) . Part of this demesne is a splendid tract of wild woodland.